Rural mail-delivery system.



PATENTBD APR. 19, 1904.

W. A. SUMNER, G. W. BREWER & J. K. GIBSON. RURAL MAIL DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1903.

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RURAL MAIL DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SUMNER, GEORGE W. BREWER, AND JOHN K. GIBSON, OF CLAY CENTER, NEBRASKA; SAID SUMNER ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN M. JONES, OF CLAY CENTER, NEBRASKA.

RURAL MAIL-DELIVERY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,787, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed April 20, 1903- To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. SUMNER, GEORGE W. BREWER, and JOHN K. GIBSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Clay Center, in the county of Clay and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rural Mail-Delivery Systems; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rural mail-delivery systems.

The object of the invention is to provide a system for automatically delivering mail'in rural districts.

Another object is to provide a system and apparatus for automatically delivering mail to any number of branch stations or private houses which will be simple, strong, and durable, efiicient and reliable in operation, not liable to get out of order, and by which the empty mail receptacles may be returned to their starting-point.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the apparatus at one of the switching-points along the line. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on a line above the trip-lever. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the cars. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the mechanism for automatically stopping the car at the terminals of the line.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the main track or wire of the apparatus. 2 denotes the switch-track, the same being supported by brackets or hangers 3 to poles or supports 4 at suitable elevation.

At intervals along the main line or at such points as may be desired are located switchstations, at which points cars designed for such Serial No. 153,497. (No model.)

stations may be automatically switched off the main line and run onto a branch or side line to the point of delivery. The apparatus for switching the cars ofl? at these points consists of a supporting-frame 5, comprising two end posts 6 and 7 and a centrally-disposed post 8, all of which are connected together by an upper cross-bar 9, suitably braced to the end posts 6 and 7. On the post 6 is fixed a laterally-projecting arm or bracket 10, the outer end of which forms one of the mainline-wire supports.

12 denotes a vertically-disposed crank-shaft, the upper end of which bears in the bar 9 and the lower end has a stepped bearing in the bracket 10. At a point along the length of the shaft 12' is attached a laterally-projecting verticallyadjustable lever 13, arranged in such a position as to be engaged by an arm carried by a car going in one direction, but which will be out of the path of the same when going in the opposite direction.

The upper end of the shaft 12 has formed thereon or fixed thereto 'acrank-arm 15, to the outer end of which is pivotally connected one end of-a link-bar or rod 16, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a crankarm 18, formed on the upper end of a vertically-disposed shaft 19, mounted in bearings upon the post 7 The crank-arm 18 is disposed in a direction opposite to the crankarm 15. r

To the lower end of the shaft 19 is fixed a laterally-projecting slotted arm 20. end of the main track 1, adjacent to the side track 2, is hinged a switch-point 1, the free end of which is cut away to form beveled fin- On the.

gers which are adapted to normally engage the main-line-wire track at the point where it turns off to form the side track 2. To the inside of the switch-point 1 is fixed one'end of an arm 21, on the opposite end of which is formed an upwardly-projecting pin orlug 22, which is adapted to engage the slotted arm 20.

22 denotes a flat leaf-spring one end of which is fixed to an arm on the main track and the opposite end of which is adapted to bear against a depending lug 21, fixed to the arm 21, the tension of the spring being to normally close the switch-point 1*.

23 denotes a laterally-projecting arm fixed to the shaft ,12, and to the outer end of said arm is pivotally connected a latch-bar 24, the free end of which has a sliding engagement with a slotted guide bar or plate 25, fixed to the central supporting-post 8. A spring 26 has one end fixed to the post 8 and its opposite end is adapted to bearupon the bar 24 to hold the same in engagement with the guide-plate or bars 25. On the lower side of the bar 24 is formed a notched plate 27, and the end of the bar is inclined downwardly, as at 27.

28 denotes two or more hangers, preferably of an inverted-U shape, fixed at their top sides to the cross-bar 9 and projecting laterally from the same. On the lower inner ends of the hangers 28 is fixed the guide bar or plate 25, the inner end of which is curvedand connects with the central post 8, and in said curved portion is formed the slot which is engaged by the notched plate 27, carried by the latch-bar 24, as hereinbefore described.

On the lower outer ends of the hangers 28 is fixed a guide plate or bar 29, arranged parallel and on a line with the plate or bar 25, but is of greater length than the latter and is supported at its extended end by an angular hanger 30, connected at its upper end with the cross-bar 9. The ends of the guide-plates 25 and 29 are curved or flared outwardly.

33 denotes one of the cars, which may be of any suitable construction, having grooved wheels for engaging the line-wire or switchtracks. The cars will preferably be of the motor type electrically driven in any suitable manner. 34 denotes a lever or arm carried by the car and is of such length and in such a position as to engage the lever 13 at its switchstation, each car being provided with an arm 34 of a length and in a position to engage the levers 13 only at its own particular station.

33 denotes two horizontally-disposed friction-rollers journaled on the top of each car and projecting over the edges of the same in position to engage the guide-plates 25 and 29 as the car reaches the switch-station.

34 denotes a laterally-projecting arm fixed to the side of the car and adapted to engage the downwardly-inclined end 27 of the latchbar 24 to raise said bar and release the notched plate 27 from engagement with the guide bar or plate 25.

35 denotes a box or other receptacle suspended from and carried by each car and into which is placed the mail or other matter to be. delivered.

36 denotes a switch arranged upon the cars by which the electric current to the same may be cut off, and 37 denotes an arm orlever fixed to a post or other support located at the terminals of the line which is adapted to engage the switch 36 as the car approaches the same and to automatically turn off the current, thereby stopping the car.

In practice the load ed cars are started from the main terminal of the line, and as they travel along the line the arms 34, carried by said cars, will when a particular car reaches its own station engage the lever 13, turn the crank-shaft 12, which will turn shaft 19, causing the slotted arm 20, fixed to the same, to bear upon the arm 21 on the switch-point and throw the same, thereby allowing the car to turn oif the main line and to run on the side to its place of delivery. In turning shaft 12 the arm 23 is also turned, causing the notch in theplate on the latch-bar 24 to catch in the guide-plate 25 and hold the switch open until the car has passed through. After the car has passed the switch-point and run onto the side track the arm 34 thereon will engage the downwardlyinclined end 27 on the latch-bar 24 and raise said latch-bar, thus freeing the notch therein from engagement with the guide-plate 25, when the spring 22 will restore the parts to their normal position and close said-switch to the main line again, so that the next car may pass onto its switch-station, where it will be switched off in the manner just described. Upon reaching their places of delivery the switch-levers 36 on the cars will come into engagement with th arm or lever 37, thereby cutting off the curl; nt from the motor in the car and stopping the same. After the contents of the car has been removed it may be reversed and the current turned 'on again, when the car will return to the switch, forcing the switch-point out far enough to allow the I same to pass onto the main line, thence to the main station or starting-point.

Any suitable form of receptacle may be employed for holding the mail or other matter, that shown herein consisting of a tubular sheet-metal can or box shaped somewhat like a cigar and suspended beneath the car.

The tracks may be formed of any suitable material and form, but are preferably formed of wire, except at the switch-stations, where a portion of their length they are formed of fiat stripsof bars of metal, as shown. 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without re quiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination with a main line, a branch line, and a switchstation provided with a switch for controlling IIO the passage of cars between said lines, of a rock-shaft provided with an actuating device operated by a car, a second rock-shaft, a connection between said shafts, means actuated by the second rock-shaft for adjusting the switch, a retracting-spring for resetting the switch and restoring the parts to their normal positions, a locking member, a locking device having a sliding engagement with said locking member and automatically operated by the car to hold the retracting-spring inactive until the car passes from the main line onto the branch line, said locking device being retracted with the switch-operating mechanism by the said retracting-spring, and means for maintaining the locking device in locking position until released by the passage of the car from the main line onto the branch line.

2. In a conveyer apparatus, the combination with a main line, a branch line, and a switchstation provided with a switch for controlling the passage of cars between said lines, of mechanism actuated by a car for adjusting the switch, means for resetting the switch and restoring the parts to their normal position, a locking member, a locking device coacting with said locking member and automatically retracted by the car to hold the said retracting means inactive until thecar passes from the main line onto the branch line, said locking device being retracted with the switch-operating mechanism by the said retracting means, and means for maintaining the locking device in locking position until released by the passage of the car from the main line onto the branch line.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A.-SUMNER. GEORGE W. BREWER. JOHN K. GIBSON.

WVitnesses: H. (J. PALMER, G. T. LYoNs. 

